A Sri Lanka Navy inshore patrol craft, with a representative of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) and seven sailors aboard, came under a rain of LTTE bullets on Tuesday (05 April 2005) morning at about 9.52 a.m. while the craft was engaged in its routine patrol in the general sea area of UPPARU, south of TRINCOMALEE Harbour.

The naval craft, caught in the LTTE shower of bullets (75-100), directed from an LTTE hideout in un-cleared areas south of TRINCOMALEE, received damages to its hull but the SLMM official, ALF STOELANN was injured when he tried to take cover inside the naval craft against the gunfire.

LTTE's Trincomalee district political wing Elilan told BBC's Tamil service that rebels returned fire only after they were fired at by the naval boat which came up to 200 metres of the coast.

But the SLMM said the monitor who was on board confirmed that Sri Lanka navy did not fire at the LTTE at all.

"The LTTE's claim is wrong", Helen Olaffsdottir said.

The LTTE also claimed that Sri Lanka navy should have informed them had they wanted to patrol in an area under rebel-control.

"That is also not correct because these patrols are ongoing in Trincomalee; they have patrols every day".

No control over sea

Sri Lanka military says they'd abide by the CFA

"We have to also bear in mind that the LTTE does not control sea water according to the agreement," SLMM said.

Helen Olaffsdottir also refused Tamil Tigers' claim that the boat came up to 200 metres of the coast.

"The monitor would have stopped the navy from approaching so close as it might be seen as dangerous prevocational act."

Military spokesman Brig. Daya Ratnayake told BBC Sandeshaya that the government would abide by the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA).